MITCHELL Evans loves his footy, so much so that the 16-year-old has regularly played two games with the oval ball every weekend for the last 12 months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He somehow manages to split his time between playing for the Port Macquarie Sharks and the Hastings Valley Vikings.
Whenever possible, he jumps in the car and swaps the blue and black of the Sharks for the green and black of the Vikings.
Some times, on the same day.
And now that passion for the two rugby codes has been rewarded after he was selected in the NSW Country rugby union side.
On Friday he will head to Auckland for a nine-day representative trip around the New Zealand capital.
At the end of last year he was accepted into the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews (under-16) summer squad and hasn’t looked back.
He joined Hastings Valley this year and made the Mid North Coast representative side for the country championships in Crescent Head.
Then he was informed of his selection for the Country side.
“It surprised me a little bit because I wasn’t expecting it because it was my first time playing rugby union this year,” he said.
“I played a bit of rugby when I was younger, but this has been my first year with the Vikings.”
Evans said even though both codes used a similar ball, the differences were stark – especially with how the game is played.
“There is a lot more backline movement in rugby, but the rules can be confusing,” the teenager admitted.
When asked why he felt the need to try his luck with the two different codes, the 16-year-old centre was matter-of-fact.
“Why not,” he said.
“We knew the rep coach and he said do you want to come and play union for us so I saw it as a good opportunity so I registered with the Vikings.”
From July 3-7, NSW Country play three games against some of New Zealand’s top schools.
They clash with Mt Roskill Grammar School, Kelston Boys High School and Mt Albert Grammar School.
“I’m looking forward to the experience and the different style of rugby they play over there,” Evans said.
“It’ll be an eye-opener, but it’s my first overseas trip with any kind of sport.
“The main thing I’ll get out of it will be hopefully the level of play and then hopefully I can teach the boys some of the things we learn over there.”
Evans will also head to Papua New Guinea in September this year with the New South Wales Young Achievers team.